Is this true?

[Isitpossible]

working in psych...patient refused medication this morning, no agitation or anxiety, just clearly stated she is within her rights to refuse meds... so I did not give her morning meds. I continuously tried throughout morning, as I'm normally am able to convince pt to take, but not today...she steadfastly refused... Later, supervisor tells me that I must give her PRN meds via IM if she refused because she was hospitalized on a 302.... ... I checked the PRN meds IM and they state give for INCREASED agitation or anxiety--not for refusal of PO meds.... what is the right thing do?

[lynds80]

Wow, I didn't think there were any states that still had that kind of policy. Are you sure it's state law and not just being done by a particular facility? (I've seen it done in violation of state law before in different places.)

I don't know for sure sorry.

[elkpark]

I don't know for sure sorry.

If you work and administer medication in a psych setting in MI, that's something it would be important to know.

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

I looked up the law pertaining to this issue in Pa, and forcing meds require a second opinion.. According to the law, involuntary patients retain the right to refuse meds! So very happy to learn that bit of information-i think its very important in my practice. Lynds80, you should definitely clarify in your state too..

[leatrn44]

working in psych...patient refused medication this morning no agitation or anxiety, just clearly stated she is within her rights to refuse meds... so I did not give her morning meds. I continuously tried throughout morning, as I'm normally am able to convince pt to take, but not today...she steadfastly refused... Later, supervisor tells me that I must give her PRN meds via IM if she refused because she was hospitalized on a 302.... ... I checked the PRN meds IM and they state give for INCREASED agitation or anxiety--not for refusal of PO meds.... what is the right thing do?[/quote']

In my state, Washington, you need a second opinion like others have mentioned. So without that you can not force meds on a pt unless they are a harm to others or harm to self. With a second opinion they get their meds regardless of how they are acting. So while an involuntary pt does have the right to refuse, usually as soon as they start to, a second opinion will be done. And most pts in this category will end of taking po once they understand that if they don't they will get a shot. Sounds like you understood fine and did what you should have, good for you. Now if you are living in a state where a second opinion is all that is needed and your pt had one and you decided not to give it because they were calm and no behavior problem, then you would have been in the wrong. Hope that helps some.